YORK City have rejected a new bid by Scunthorpe United for striker Clayton Donaldson.

"We have made a substantial bid, but it has been rejected," said Iron manager Nigel Adkins.

According to sources in Scunthorpe, the League One promotion contenders tabled their bid within the last 24 hours. The Iron have money to spend following the £600,000 transfer of Andy Keogh to Wolves.

But their approach for hot-shot Donaldson fell short of the £500,000 City's board have said would be needed to prize away the sought-after striker ahead of next Wednesday's transfer deadline.

City boss Billy McEwan has praised the board's stance over Donaldson, saying: "My board have been great. They want to keep him until the end of the season and hopefully beyond that."

Dublin-born striker Keogh left Leeds for Glanford Park in February 2005 in a £100,000 deal that included a sell-on clause giving the Whites 20 per cent of the profit of any future sale, so the Championship side will net £100,000.

Former City midfielder Steve Agnew has left the Leeds coaching staff to take up the post of reserve team coach at Middlesbrough.

sport@ycp.co.uk